Linking the Wilderness to the World

Linking the Wilderness to the World. . , The Ohio and Erie Canal was among the most successful canals during the periods when canals contributed to our nation's growth. In 1827 the canal opened from Cleveland through the Cuyahoga Valley to Akron. When completed in 1832 it stretched 308 miles to the Ohio River at Portsmouth., The Ohio and Erie Canal linked into a water-based transportation system that provided affordable access to markets. Goods shipped through Cleveland headed east via Lake Erie and New York's Erie Canal. Production of goods boomed to supply growing industries on the East Coast. Within one year, wheat shipped through Cleveland increased from 1,000 to 250,000 bushels. By 1840 the number had soared to 2.2 million bushels., By the 1850s railroads began to supplant the canal. The 1913 flood provided the final blow to canal operations. Today, the Towpath Trail extends through the 110-mile Ohio and Erie Canalway, a national heritage area that celebrates the canal's legacy. The National Park Service manages 20 miles of the trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park., Access , Within Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the trail is level and hard-packed for visitors using wheelchairs, bicycles, and strollers. Motorized vehicles are prohibited, except motorized wheelchairs. Consider combining your visit with a trip aboard Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, traveling one way on the Towpath Trail and the other way by train.